Chirisa Technology Parks (CTP) is expanding its data center portfolio in partnership with PowerHouse Data Centers.
CTP, the wholesale and hyperscale data center development platform of Chirisa Investments, this week announced an expansion of its data center footprint across Virginia, Illinois, Washington, and New Jersey - acquiring two sites likely from CTP sister company Digital Fortress and expanding two of its existing campuses.
Following these expansions, CTP will have deployed more than 400MW of critical capacity. Much of these expansions have been done in partnership with PowerHouse, which is owned by American Real Estate Partners (AREP).
In Richmond, Virginia, CTP will be expanding its existing 300-acre campus in the Meadowville Technology Park to provide up to one million sq ft in partnership with PowerHouse. The two companies are currently in the process of delivering a new 300MW substation at the site.
In Chicago, Illinois, CTP recently delivered the first phase of a 160,000 sq ft (14,865 sq m), 30MW facility. CTP and PowerHouse will complete the second phase, including a high-density HPC installation with direct-to-chip cooling and closed-loop cooling systems, by December 2024.
CTP also recently acquired a large facility in Piscataway, New Jersey, and intends to build out 25MW of capacity at the site, commencing in 2024 with a 12MW build-out for a large customer.
Details of the facility or the deal were not shared. However, an image of CTP’s site suggests it may be Digital Fortress’ facility at 201 Centennial Avenue. Digital Fortress, also owned by Chirisa, is the firm’s colocation arm and has operated the site since 2019.
In Seattle, Washington, CTP recently acquired a 10MW standalone facility in Lynnwood, Washington, formerly occupied by an unnamed 'hyperscale tenant'. CTP said it will refit the facility and deploy an initial 5MW Edge installation for an AI-focused customer.
Again details of the facility and terms of the acquisition were not shared, but images on CTP’s website match Digital Fortress' data center at 4200 194th St SW. Originally opened in 2006 by APC, DF acquired the former NetRiver/ByteGrid site from Lincoln RackHouse in 2019.
Lee Hayes, managing director of Chirisa and president of CTP, said: "We have employed a patient and long-term strategy at CTP, leveraging our close industry relationships from Chirisa's 25+ year involvement as an investor and operator in tech and telecoms. Our CTP platform is focused on delivering for the specialized and more challenging requirements of large and sophisticated customers. We are very pleased to announce the latest expansion of our footprint today at PTC."
CTP said it has completed more than $300 million of debt and equity financing for growth over the past 12 months, including $200 million of debt financing from Brookfield Infrastructure Debt and $50 million of debt financing from Crestline Direct Lending.
CTP was advised by the Capital Markets and Debt Advisory teams at CBRE.
Doug Fleit, founder & CEO of PowerHouse Data Centers, added: "We're thrilled to partner with Chirisa to deliver these state-of-the-art data center facilities with unbeatable speed-to-market that meet the complex needs of hyperscale tenants. Our shared commitment to exceeding those needs is foundational."
Chirisa Technology Parks was then established in late 2022. The first 28MW building at the company's Richmond campus, known as CTP-01, was recently leased to CoreWeave.
Previously operated by CTP’s sister company Digital Fortress, two more buildings totaling 284,000 sq ft (26,385 sq m) and 120MW are planned; CTP-02 is already reserved, while CTP-03 is set to go live in Q3 2025. Another building known as CTP-06 is planned in the future, according to CTP’s website.
Outside Chicago, CTP also owns a 50-acre site in Volo previously occupied by HSBC/Capital One. The first 14MW building on the site, known as YLO-01, spans 160,000 sq ft (14,865 sq m). The second building, YLO-02, will add 14MW and build out an existing 160,000 sq ft shell. Another 150,000 sq ft building is planned in the future, according to CTP’s website.
PowerHouse was founded in 2022. The company currently has a data center campus in Ashburn, Virginia, which was leased to CyrusOne in May 2023, and is planning developments on two other sites in Virginia’s Loudoun County, in Sterling and Arcola.
The company also recently gained approval for a data center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Earlier this week the company announced plans for a new campus in Reno, Nevada, and an 800MW development in Virginia’s Spotsylvania County.
“It's been a busy week here at PowerHouse Data Centers. On top of the 1GW+ of new development announced in Nevada and Virginia, we are thrilled to be partnering with Chirisa Technology Parks in the expansion of their data center footprint,” PowerHouse EVP Luke Kipfer said on LinkedIn.
